Coin-operated weighing-scale.



G. A. FBY.

COIN OPERATED WEIGHING SCALE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 26,1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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. COIN OPERATED WEIGHING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

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COIN OPERATED WEIGHING SCALE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.26,19121 PatentedNOV. 4, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES AUGUST FEY, OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.

COIN-OPERATED WEIGHING-SCALE.

To all whom it may concern:

lates to an improved coin opera-ted weighing-scale, particularly adaptedto be employed in public places Where free scales are now in use,whereby a source of revenue is derived from the users of the scale, andthe invention has for its principal object to provide a coin-operatedscale of the beam type in which the weights carried by the beam arecapable of being adjusted to balance the beam to the weight of the user,and the weight indicated by the position of the weights relative to thebeam is locked from the View of the user until a coin or token isdeposited in the apparatus.

Another and important object is to provide a scale of the above typewith means for locking the beam in its balanced position upon theexposing to the user of the position of the balance Weights relative tothe beam, that more than one weight cannot be ascertained upon thedeposit of but a single coin or token.

The invention consists in a scale beam provided with the usual balancingweights, a housing in which one or both of the scale beam arms areinclosed, means exterior of the housing for adjusting the balancingweights relative to their arms to balance the beam, coin controlledmeans for exposing the beam arms to View, and means for locking thescale beam in its balanced position upon the exposing the beam arms toview.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in. the

' accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended;it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, sizeand minor details of construction, within the scope of the appendedclaims, may be resorted to without depart ing from the spirit orsacrificing any advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference should be had to theaccompany- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 26, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Serial No. 722,459.

ing drawings disclosing one form of my invention, wherein Figure 1 is aview in elevation of my invention mounted on the head portion of anordinary type of beam weighing-scale, and disclosing the beam housingand the shield covering the upper beam arm in its lowermost position.Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the slide covering the upperbeam arm in its raised position, disclosing the position of the weightcarried thereby and the scale beam locked in its balanced position. Fig.3 is a top plan view with the housing cover removed, disclosing themanner of mounting the shield and the actuating mechanism for the same.Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line H of Fig. 3 looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation partly in section ofthe operating mechanism and the coin controlled locking pawl, therespective parts being disclosed in their normal position when theshield is in its lowermost position. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5,disclosing the operating mechanism in the position when the shield is inits raised position and the scale beam is locked in its balancedposition. the hinged side for the coin slot and the manner of retainingthe same in position. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the operating slide,disclosing the notches at one edge thereof and the spring pawlassociated therewith for preventing the slide from being operated in theopposite direction to which it is traveling until it has completed itsfull length of travel.

The general construction of the weighing scale illustrated fordisclosing my improved invention is the ordinary type of platform-scale,so that it is not necessary to disclose in the drawings the platform andits contained mechanism, as the features of my invention are allassociated with the beam portion of the scale.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1indicates a hollow standard rising from the scale platform (not shown)and on which is sup ported the head 2, providing a base on which reststhe vertical end members 3 and l of a suitable hollow housing 5 formedof front and rear walls 6 and 7 which are secured together in spacedrelation to each other in any suitable manner.

Fig. 7 is adetail view of Extending vertically from the head 2 is asuitable fulcrum post 8, which pivotally supports, as at 9, thescale-beam, formed with the upper and lower bars 10 and 11 which arejoined at their front ends by a bar 12 and at their rear ends by a bar13; the bar 12 is provided in its outer edge with a suitable recess 14and is also pro vided with a pointer 15, adapted when the beam isbalanced to aline with a stationary indicator hand 16 carried byvertical end member 3 of the housing 5.

The fulcrum post 8 is of such height that the upper bar 10 of the scalebeam is located within the housing 5 and on said bars 10 and 11 areslidably mounted the respective weights 1.7 and 18, the weight 17 beinglocated within the housing 5, the same normally concealing it from viewand is provided with an operating handle 19 which extends exteriorly ofsaid housing.

The scale-beam carries the usual. poise-ad justing weights 20, andbetween the weights and the pivoted point 9 of the scale-beam isconnected, is usual, by the link 21 to a hook 22 formed at the upper endof a rod 28 through the medium of which connection is made with thescale-platform.

Formed in the front wall 6 of the housing 5 in front of the bar 10 is ahorizontally extending opening 24 which is normally closed by a shield26, slidably mounted in guides 27, formed in the inner surface of thewall 6, said shield being provided at its rear with suitable sockets 28into which extend the rounded ends 29 of arms 30, which are mounted attheir inner ends on a suitable shaft 31 extending longitudinally withinthe housing, and said shaft is journaled at its ends in suitablebearings 32, arranged adjacent each end of said housing.

Extending from the shaft 31 and positioned adjacent one end thereof isan arm 33 which is pivotally connected at its end by a link 34, with anarm projecting rearwardly from an operating plate 36 slidably mounted ina suitable guideway formed in the inner face of the front wall 6.

An operating handle 38 projects from the opposite side of the plate 36from the arm 35, and operates through a slot 39 in the front wall 6. Itwill be observed that upon grasping the handle 36 and sliding theoperating plate 36 downwardly that the shield 26 will be moved upwardlyuncovering the opening 24, and exposing the upper bar 10 of thescale-beam.

The coin-controlled mechanism is constructed in the following manner:Pivotally mounted on the plate 36 adjacent the arm 35 is a pawl 40,formed at its upper end with an outwardly projecting catch 41 having anupwardly beveled upper surface and provided on its underside with aninward and downwardly beveled surface 42, and said pawl is providedbelow said catch 41 with an outwardly projecting finger 43, the outerend of which extends beyond the end of the catch 4-1, and is inwardlyand douurwardly beveled on its under side, as at 44, the pawl beingnormally forced outwardly by the action of a coiled spring 4:;- whichconnects at it lower end with a lug 46, extending outwardly from thepawl adjacent its pivotal point, and said sprin is secured at its upperend to a lug 4" n-ojectiug rearwardly from the front wall 6, the springalso drawing the plate 36 upwardly upon the release of pressure upon theoperating handle 38, and the plate is limited in its upward movement bythe lug 47. A plate 48 is arranged in cooperative relation to the pawl40 and extends at right angles from the inner side of the front wall 6,and is secured thereto in any suitable manner.

A coin groove 4-9 is formed in the outer face of the plate 48, and thesame communicates at its upper end with a receiving opening 50 formed inthe front wall 6 of the housing, and at its lower end with a coinreceiving box 51 secured to the head 2 in any suitable manner. A plate52 covers the exposed side of the coin groove 49, and the same is hingedto one edge of the plate 416, and is re tained in position against theoutwardly extending edges of the groove 49 by a suitable tension spring53.

lhe catch 41 and finger 4-? formed on the pawl 40 are adapted tocooperate respec tively with suitably arranged openings and 135, pro."ided in the plate 46, said openings being formed with upwardly andinwardly beveled top edges and douuiwardly and inwardly beveled bottomedgvg'es, and the finger 43 when in normal position projects through theopening into the coin groove From the above construction it will beobserved that when a, coin is inserted in the groove 49 the same willrest on the tinge],- 43, and as the plate 536 is moved downwardly theaction of lhe spring 47 will have a tendency to force the catch ll intothe opening 54-, but the same will be prevented from projecting entirelythrough said open ing by the end of the catch contacting with the faceof the coin, and upon further downward movement of the plate the beveledsurface 42 of the pawl will contact with the beveled bottom edge of theopening 51, which will move the pawl inwardly and the catch will slidedown the inner face of the plate 48. is the catch 41 contacts with heinner face of the plate 48 the finger 43 will also be withdrawn fromunter the coin, and the same will drop through the groove 49 into thecoin receptacle 51.

During the above operation the shield 26 will be moved upwardlyuncovering the opening 24- and exposing the bar 10. Should the plate 36be moved downwardly without the insertion of a coin Within the coingroove 49, the action of the coiled spring 45 will force the catch 41into the opening 54, and there being nothing to prevent the catch 41from projecting entirely through the open ing 54, the beveled surface 42of the catch 41 will not contact with the beveled bottom edge of theopening 54, and consequently the straight lower surface of the catchwill engage the outer edge of the opening 54 and prevent the plate 36from being forced downwardly.

The means for locking the scale beam in its balanced position upon theoperating of the shield 26 to uncover the opening 24 consists of thefollowing mechanism :Pivotally mounted to a stud 55, secured to theinner face of the front wall 6 of the housing, and positioned adjacentthe plate 36 is a level-56, formed 011 its lower end with a lug 57,which is adapted to be seated in the recess 14, in the bar 12, and saidlever is provided on the edge opposite to the lug 57 with a suitable camsurface 58, which is adapted to be engaged on the downward movement ofthe plate 36 by a lug 59 carried by the plate 36, and the action of thelug 59 on the cam surface 58 will force the lug 57 into the recess 14and lock the scale beam in its balanced position. A coiled spring 60 isconnected to the upper end of the lever 56, and to the inner face of thefront wall 6 and the action of said spring is to withdraw the lug 57from the recess 14 when the lug 59 is disengaged from the cam surface58.

A pawl 61 is pivotally mounted on a suit able stud extending from theinner face of the plate 6 and said pawl is maintained normally in ahorizontal position by the action of a coiled spring 62. The pawl 61 isadapted to engage suitable ratchets 63 formed in the outer edge of aprojection 64 on said plate 36 and from the above con struction it willbe observed that the plate 36 will be prevented from moving oppositelyto the direction of its movement when engaged by said pawl, until theplate has completed its full travel in one direct-ion or the other.

A suitable plate 65 is detachably secured to cover the end of thehousing adjacent the coin controlled mechanism, that upon anyderangement of the mechanism, the plate may be readily removed and easyaccess had to the deranged part.

The operator desiring to ascertain his weight, steps on the scaleplatform, adjusts the weights along their respective bars, until thebeam balances, and the pointer 15 registers with the indicator hand 16.The beam is now balanced, but the operator can not see the position ofthe weight 17 on the bar 10, as the same is within the housing and theshield 26 is positioned over the opening 24 formed in the front wall 6directly in front of the bar 10. The operator to see the position of theweight 17 relative to the graduation on the bar 10, must insert asuitable coin or token in the opening 50, that the same may drop intothe groove 49, and a coin inserted in the opening 50 will rest on thefinger 43, and as the plate 36 is moved downwardly the catch 41 willcontact with the coin or token and be prevented from projecting throughthe opening 54 in the plate 48. The beveled under surface of the catch41 will slide from the beveled edge of the opening 50, the coin or tokenwill drop from the finger 4-3 into the receptacle, and the pawl 40 willslide down the inner face of the plate 48, the downward movement of theplate 36 through its connections with the shield 26, will raise the sameand expose the weight 17 on the bar 10, and simultaneously therewith thelug 57 will be forced in the recess 14 and lock the scale beam. in itsbalanced position. The parts will remain in the above position until theoperator releases the handle 38 at which time they will be restored totheir normal position by the respective springs associated therewith.Upon the return or upward movement of the plate 36, the pawl 61 willengage the ratchets 63 on said plate and remain engaged with the sameuntil the catch 41 and finger 43 project into their respective openingsin the plate 48.

Having thus fully described my invention what is claimed as new and isdesired to be protected by Letters Patent is- 1. In a weighing-scale,the combination with a scale-beam and a movable Weight cooperatingtherewith, a shield normally covering said scale-beam and weight,mechanism for locking said shield in its normal position, means carriedby said movable weight and extending exteriorly of said shield foradjusting said weight relative to said scale beam to balance said beamwhen the same is covered by said shield, and means for operating saidshield to expose the position of said weight relative to said. scalebeamwhen the beam is in its balanced position.

2. In a weighing-scale, the combination with a scale-beam and a movableweight co operating therewith, a shield normally cor ering saidscale-beam and weight, mechanism for locking said shield in its normalposition, means carried by said movable weight and extending exteriorlyof said shield for adjusting said weight relative to said scale beam tobalance said beam when the same is covered by said shield, means foroperating said shield to expose the position of said weight relative tosaid scalebeam when the beam is in its balanced position, and means forlocking said scale-beam in inoperative posit-ion upon the operating ofsaid shield to expose said beam to view.

3. In a weighing-scale, the combination with a scale-beam and a movableweight cooperating therewith, a shield normally covering said scale beamand weight, mechanism for locking said shield in its normal position,means extending from said weight and projecting exteriorly of saidshield for adjusting said weight relative to said scalebeam to balancesaid beam when the same is covered by said shield, means for operatingsaid shield to expose the position of said weight relative to saidscale-beam, and means controllable by said shield operating means forlocking said scalebeam in its balanced position upon the exposing of thesame to view.

4. In a weighing-scale, the combination with a scale-beam and a movableweight co operating therewith, a housing inclosing said beam, saidhousing being provided with an opening through which said beam isexposed, a shield normally closing said opening, means extending fromsaid weight and projecting exteriorly of said housing for adjusting saidweight relative to said scale beam to balance said beam when the same isconcealed by said shield, and means for op erating said shield to exposesaid beam wnen in its balanced position.

5. In a weighing-scale, the combination with a scale-beam and a movableweight cooperating therewith, a housing inclosing said beam, saidhousing being provided with an opening through which said beam isexposed, a shield normally closing said opening and concealing saidbeam, mechanism for locking said shield in its normal position, meansextending from said weight and projecting exteriorly of said housing foradjusting said weight relative to said scale beam to balance said beamwhen the same is concealed by said shield, a plunger for shitting saidshield to expose beam, and means for normally preventing movement ofsaid plunger.

(3. In a weighingscale, the combination with a scale-beam and a movableweight cooperating therewith, a housing for incl osing said beam, saidhousing being provided with an opening through which said beam isexposed, a shield normally closing said opening and concealing saidbeam, mechanism for locking said shield in its normal position, meansextending from said weight and projecting exteriorly of said housing foradjusting said weight relative to said scalebeam to balance said beamwhen the same is concealed by said shield, means for unlocking saidshield and operating he same to expose said scale-beam, and means forlocking said scale-beam in inoperative position upon the exposure of thesame.

7. In a weighin -scale, the combination with a scale-beam and a movablewei ht 00- operating therewith, a housing for inclosing said beam, saidhousing being provided with an opening through which said beam isexposed, a shield normally closing said opening and concealing saidbeam, mechanism for locking said shield in its normal position, meansextending r'rom said weight and projecting exterior-1y of said housingfor adjusting said weight relative to said scalebcam to balance saidbeam when the same is concealed by said shield, means for unlocking saidshield and operating the same to expose said scale-beam, and meansconirollable by said shield operating means for lockin said scale-beamin its balanced position upon the exposing of the same to View.

8. In a weighing-scale, the combination with a scale-beam formed withthe usual upper and lower bars, movable weights cooperating with each ofsaid bars, a housing for inclosing said upper-bar, said housing beingprovided with an opening through which said bar is exposed, a shieldnormally closing said opening and concealing said upper-bar, mechanismfor locking said shield in its normal position, means extending from theweight cooperating with said upper-bar and projecting extoriorly of saidhousing for adjusting said weight relative to said upper-bar to balancethe same when the same is concealed by said shield, and means forunlocking said shield and operating the same to expose said upper-bar.

f). In a weighing-scale, the combination with a scale-beam formed withthe usual upper and lower bars, movable weights cooperating with each ofsaid bars, a housing for inclosing said upper-bar, said housing beingprovided with an opening through which said bar is exposed, a shieldnormally closing said opening and concealing said upper-bar, mechanismfor locking said shield in its normal position, means extending from theweight cooperating with said upper-bar and projecting exteriorly of saidhousing for adjusting said weight relative to said upper-bar to balancethe same when the same is concealed by said shield, means for unlockingsaid shield and operating the same to expose said upper-bar, and meansfor locking said scale-beam in inoperative position upon the exposing ofsaid upperbar.

10. In a weighing-scale, the combination with a scale-beam formed withthe usual upper and lower bars, movable weights cooperating with each ofsaid bars, a housing "for inclosing said upper-bar, said housing beingprovided with an opening through which said bar is exposed, a shieldnormally closing said opening and concealing said upper-bar, mechanismfor locking said shield in its normal position, means extending from theweight cooperating with said upper-bar and projecting exteriorly of saidhousing for adjusting said weight relative to said upperbar to balancethe same when the same is concealed by said shield, means for unlockingsaid shield and operating the same to expose said upper-bar, and meanscontrollable by said coin controlled shield operating means for lockingsaid scale beam in its balanced position upon the exposing of saidupper-bar.

11. In a scale, the combination with a scale beam and a movable weightcooperating therewith, of a shield normally positioned to cover saidbeam and weight, means for shifting said shield to expose the beam andweight, and means for simultaneously locking said beam against movementon its fulcrum.

12. In a scale, the combination with a scale beam and a movable weightcooperating therewith, of a shield normally positioned to cover saidbeam and weight, a plunger opcratively connected to said shield andadapted to shift the same to expose the beam when it is moved, a memberadapted to engage said scale beam to hold the same against movement onits fulcrum, said plunger being provided with a portion adapted toengage said last mentioned member and move the same into engagement withthe beam when the plunger is moved to shift the shield.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES AUGUST FEY.

WVitnesses:

GEO. A. DANA,

WILLIAM F. SCHMIDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

